It's time to end per diems, Senate candidates agree

The seven candidates for the 22nd Senatorial District seat all think Harrisburg needs reform, but they agree on only one measure.

Per diems must go.

All seven want to eliminate the set daily amount state legislators get for expenses while in the state capital on legislative business. The per diem this year is $163, which legislators may collect without producing receipts. Only legitimate expenses, backed by receipts, should be reimbursed, the candidates said.

"You can't have unvouchered expenses and expect people not to abuse it. I mean, it's too easy," said Scranton School Director Chris Phillips, a loss prevention officer for Lowe's. "When I go on the road and I travel ... I get $30 for the day for all my meals - $7 for breakfast, $8 for lunch and $15 for dinner. There's no reason that a legislator can't do the same thing."

Even state Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-114, who has collected tens of thousands of dollars in per diems since taking office in 2000, said he favors eliminating them. Starting next year, if he's elected, he said he would start collecting actual expenses, even if no change in per diem rules occurs. But Mr. Wansacz, who co-owns a Harrisburg home where he stays, said the new rules should set maximum amounts for legislators who choose to stay in apartments or own homes. With per diems in place, he is unable to submit home expenses, he said.

"It's not like I can turn in my electric bill and say, 'Here's the bill,' " he said. "I can't turn in my mortgage payment; that's not allowed."

Former state executive deputy secretary John Blake and insurance company owner Chuck Volpe said the receipt-based system should include audits or other measures to verify expenses are legitimate.

Former Lackawanna County Commissioner Joseph Corcoran said he laid down ground rules for expenses when he was Scranton's controller: legitimate expenses backed up by receipts.

"To me, providing receipts is a way of life," he said.

Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty said, "You shouldn't be paid to come to work in addition to what your salary is."

"Per diems are for the protected and connected," former Old Forge School Director Frank Scavo said.

The candidates generally favor a convention to revise the state constitution, primarily to reduce or at least examine reducing the General Assembly's size.

"I don't think it's bad to look at yourself and analyze how things work, how they're not working, how can we do it better," Mr. Doherty said.

Mr. Wansacz wants a 20 percent cut in the number of legislators. Mr. Volpe, who has vowed not to take a salary or other benefits to which legislators are entitled, said he will be "leading the charge" for a 10 percent reduction. Mr. Scavo wants to leave the Senate at 50 members but reduce the House to two seats per senatorial district, leaving 100 representatives instead of 203.

The others did not have a specific reduction in mind.

Mr. Blake said a commission should first study ways to create a nonpartisan convention, because legislators will not back one "if they don't believe it won't be gamed."

Mr. Blake and Mr. Phillips, who for now only favor examining a reduction, Mr. Wansacz, Mr. Volpe and Mr. Doherty say reducing the Legislature's staff could produce more savings.

Mr. Wansacz, who says his staff salaries are among the lowest, says staff often earn too much.

"You're telling me that someone who works in (House Democratic Leader) Todd Eachus' office should get almost as much as the governor? It's outrageous," Mr. Wansacz said.

Mr. Scavo favors a part-time Legislature, as in Texas, where the body meets every two years for several months.

Term limits

The candidates differed widely on term limits for legislators.

Mr. Blake said he is willing to be convinced after a study of other states or by a constitutional convention that favors limits. Seniority often means gaining a solid knowledge of how government works and "a little more credibility," he said.

Mr. Corcoran, who served five terms as a commissioner, said it would be hypocritical for him to favor limits, but he does favor limiting a legislator's tenure as a committee chairman. New chairmen could bring new ideas to committee and allow former chairmen to provide valuable legislative expertise on new committees, he said.

Mr. Wansacz favors limiting the tenure of chairmen and House and Senate leaders. The existing seniority system for choosing leaders and chairmen is unfair to "young legislators coming up, because it doesn't matter how good you are or what you know."

He opposes limiting legislators' terms without limits on the tenures of legislative staff, lobbyists and reporters who cover Harrisburg.

"They have all the institutional knowledge, and they're the ones running the show," he said. "What you're going to lose with term limits is institutional knowledge of people that know how something was done before, know the mistakes that were made or the pluses and see how they can change it."

Legislators have term limits now; they're called elections, he said.

Mr. Phillips said that is not true.

"I think that the seniority system as it's set up breeds corruption," said Mr. Phillips, who favors eight years as a limit. "Someone becomes entrenched, you know ... how do you beat them (in an election)? It's almost impossible because of the amount of (campaign) money they are able to raise."

Mr. Volpe and Mr. Scavo agreed. Mr. Volpe favors four or five terms for House members and two for senators.

Term limits would water down special interests' "attempts to buy politicians" and allow legislators to "vote their conscience," Mr. Volpe said.

Mr. Scavo would limit senators and representatives to three terms.

Mr. Doherty, now in his third term as mayor, favors examining term limits as part of the constitutional convention, but declined to commit to a position.

Gift ban

State law requires disclosure of gifts if they total $250 or more from one source.

Mr. Doherty, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Volpe favor a ban.

"You're in public service to make things better, and your focus should be creating jobs, making your district and the state better as a whole, as opposed to spending your time defending whether or not you should get a pay raise or whether or not you should get a gift," Mr. Doherty said.

Mr. Blake, Mr. Corcoran and Mr. Wansacz said the current law is adequate.

Mr. Corcoran said he had no problem with a candidate or public official receiving tickets to a high school basketball game or to a spaghetti dinner "because they wanted you to be there."

Mr. Scavo said legislators should only be allowed to accept dinners, as in business, but not other gifts.

Campaign contribution limits

Pennsylvania does not cap the size of political contributions.

Mr. Blake said he would not oppose caps, and Mr. Doherty, Mr. Corcoran, Mr. Wansacz and Mr. Volpe favor limits.

"It makes sense because then you would have more time to talk about issues as opposed to raising money," the mayor said.

Mr. Corcoran said limits would keep "the system a lot more under control."

"You've got people who have unlimited finances, and they can just dole all kinds of money into a campaign and the little guy never has a chance," Mr. Corcoran said. "I like the idea of a little bit of money from a lot of people."

"There's too much money involved in politics," Mr. Wansacz said.

Mr. Phillips said he is not opposed to limits but wants to study the issue because free speech rights are involved.

"I'm not advocating that people have a right to buy candidates, but you've got to be careful with that," he said.

Mr. Scavo said he opposes limits because they restrict free speech.

Other Senate races

The two Democrats and one Republican competing for the 14th Senatorial District seat believe reducing the Legislature's size is worth examining and favor a constitutional convention to examine reforms.

State Rep. John Yudichak, D-119, Plymouth, said a reduction would require a constitutional convention, which he favors, and that could help restore confidence in government and empower citizens.

But he worries a smaller Legislature might work against smaller regions.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, who faces Mr. Yudichak for the Democratic nomination, said a reduction could save money, but also worries larger districts could lead to less representation.

Luzerne County Commissioner Stephen A. Urban, a Republican, favors reducing the House to 100 members.

As for other reforms, Mr. Yudichak said he has already introduced a package of proposed reforms that includes eliminating per diems, requiring receipts to prove expenses and term limits for legislative leaders "so we do not have a concentration of power in the hands of one leader for decades."

All three "would go a long way to changing the culture in Harrisburg," he said.

Mr. Leighton said he favors increasing "the checks and balances on what can be done to eliminate so-called Bonusgate and the corruption and make the people more responsible."

He favors hiring a private company to research and analyze possible reforms.

Mr. Urban favors a constitutional convention to look at the Legislature's size and budget and eliminating per diems.

In the 20th Senatorial District, state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., is unopposed for her party's nomination.

She favors reducing the size of the Legislature, and has already co-sponsored specific bills to do it.

She favors eliminating per diems and requiring receipts to back up expenses, which is what she does already.

A constitutional convention, she said, could review the Legislature's operations, but also other issues such as property taxes, tort reform, a graduated income tax, ballot initiatives, redistricting and merit selection of judges.

ANDREW STAUB, staff writer, contributed to this story.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

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29 posted comments

30 Dollars a day for meals? Maybe thats what Lowe's allows, however most companies have expense allowances that are reasonable. 15 Dollars for dinner? Come on, be serious. If you want educated professional individuals to represent you, treat them that way. I don't really see a problem with a $163/Day per diem. A nice hotel, not 5star, not 1star, but a nice, average 3star hotel in the Harrisburg area can go for about 99-139 a night. Factor in that sometimes the rates go very high in the summer due to Hershey attractions along with reasonable meal allowance of 65day and now you are well over the current 163/day. If you want to save money, by all means, cut the size of the legislature. Does Lackawanna County really need the amout of reps currently in place? To the guy who works at Lowe's.....where exactly do you eat a decent meal for 15 bucks. Not fast food, but a real meal. No alcohol, just a meal, soft drink and a tip. OK, wait, I can see it now, all the local reps at The Golden Coral in Harrisburg. And the people in this area wonder why the rest of the state makes fun of people from this area.

funny, only during primary and election time do these idiots talk about property taxes and per diems. "if elected I will not take a per diem or a state vehicle and cut property taxes". its us who believe it. You will all re-elect the same jokers and nothing changes. why not make that change now while in office wansack? it was your choice to buy a house, it was not required. expect to pay more state tax and deal with a spector, wansack, and all other incumbent butt heads for years to come. next time a senior cries about their fixed incomes go pat your buddy politicain you've been re-electing for years in office. he gets richer and smoothe talks you for his vote because he is doing so much! not.

Wansacz has finally found religion on these issues of reform? Yea right. Why didn't he do something about them for the past 10 years while he has been down in Harrisburg as as state rep? He couldn't be bothered. He was too busy hob nobbing with the party bosses like DeWeese and Veon who is going to jail for corruption, and playing poker, drinking beers and smoking cigars with the politicians in the smoke filled back rooms. We would have to all be out of our minds to vote for this guy. He is the poster boy for what we don't need in Harrisburg. Another young Mellow.

Listen up, JOHN BLAKE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH A CLEAR PLAN, CLEAN & EXPERIENCE in Harrisburg.Volpe, an insurance executive - Connected to the ex-Dunmore Commisioner (Toyota Pavillion), check it out.Doherty, Wansacz & Corcoran no thank you, too much luggage.Phillips, great guy, needs more experience, but clearly 2nd best. Blake, he's brilliant, a leader & clean.

well judging from the comments I can see that NEPA still has the same old mind set "It's not what I can do for my comunity but rather how and who is best suited to bleed the taxpaiers to the poor house" In otherwords if it smells like big government,presses for more taxes,lies,promises and cheats like an eggcorn it must be a liberal with a mental disorder in short A DEMOCRAT the same old same old Bob Mellow kind of politics that will keep NEPA in the dark ages for another senat term.Ask not what your government can do for but what you can do for your government!!! VOTE FOR FRANK SCAVO

I am voting A-B-C-D, Anyone But Chris Doherty!!!!!!! King Chris doesn't even know what he wants to be when he graows up and learns to tell the truth. That being said we need to start rallying around a candidate so King Chris doesn't slip in and win with 25 percent. I do not care who but someone has to step up slam King Chris and earn this race.

Wansacz has the strongest stance on the issues? WHAT! He flip flops all over an issue until he sees how the political wind is blowing. He suddenly has seen the light on per diems after he has been grabbing them for the past 10 years? He's against term limits? The people want them. Forget about term limits for committee chairmen. We need term limits prohibiting someone from even being in Harrisburg too long to begin with. He has no vision or principles. He's a typical slick professional politician. Just what we don't want or need in Harrisburg anymore.

1. Wansacz and Mellow hate each other. 2. If you really think Volpe will go to Harrisburg and get anything done as a Democrat your crazy!3. Doherty doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up, Mayor, Governor, Senator…..4. FACT Wansacz is for the PEOPLE. He has never done anything illegal. The PEOPLE wanted him to stop per diems and he will. 5. The PEOPLE need him in Harrisburg if you want anything to come back to this area! DON’T BE STUPID! VOTE FOR Jim Wansacz if you really care about your community

another thing we have in Northeastern Pa. is inherited offices. I think of Wancacz, Novembrino, off hand but I'm sure I can think of a few others.We have to do merit elections, what's that you ask?, it's something we don't have here,because we have our powerhouse parties, Democrat and Republican pick our candidates.Our elections should be open.

We have the largest, over paid and underworked group of Legislators in this Country. Term limits are badly needed. The founding fathers never envisioned career politicians.and everything should be capped. Then we would not see any $300,000 plus retirement salaries like the one that Mellow will recieve.That's pitiful.

Blake, Volpe and Phillips are the only CLEAN candidate.The rest of them are recycled liars, telling us what sounds good to get elected.What jobs Chris Doherty, Mellow brought the Medical School here, you almost screwed it up, remember, could you see Virginia in Harrisburg.Wansacz, please now no per diem, shame on you.

Say what you want. It looks like Jim Wansacz has the stronger stance on all these issues. I don't like per diems either, but come on there are much bigger fish to fry. A few things come to mind; jobs, the economy, education. He's a career politician? All these guys are! I'm not thrilled with any of the choices, but Wansacz seems to know the issues and he has me leaning his way.

You mean that our legislatures won't be able to eat cracked crab everyday for lunch anymore? Let's drop the pension plan also, ohhh thats a sore spot. Vote for a Laywer,Judge,Developer,Car Salesman,Prostitute, they are the only ones you can trust.Ughhhh, Maybe we should just eliminate the position...